Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete has been selected as the most beautiful woman on the planet by defeating 84 contestants to become 2010’s Miss Universe. 
The 22 year old from Guadalajara, Jalisco thrilled the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino crowd with her beauty, poise and intelligence to become only the second contestant from Mexico to win the coveted title. Jimena continues the tradition of beautiful Latinas selected as Miss Universe by replacing last year’s winner and former Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez.

Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps was voted first runner-up. Meanwhile, Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, who was chosen by fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, landed on the second runner-up. Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and Miss Philippines Venus Raj were at the third and fourth runner-up respectively.

Dressed in a one-strap flowing red gown Jimena was first to answer an interview question.  Asked by Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek how she felt about unsupervised internet use, Navarrete said the internet is important but parents need to be careful and watch over their kids. “I do believe that internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time,” she said through an interpreter. “We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family.”

Navarrete — who’s been modeling since she was 15 — is Mexico’s second Miss Universe. Lupita Jones of Mexico won the title in 1991. Navarrete’s win thwarted Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson from giving the South American country a third consecutive win. Neither Gibson nor Miss USA Rima Fakih made the top 15 finalists.

With fans in some 190 countries watching on television and keeping tabs on Twitter, Navarrete and her competitors introduced themselves while wearing over-the-top national costumes. They then danced in silver and black dresses for the show’s opening number before the top 15 finalists were announced.

The final 15 walked in swimsuits while Cirque du Soleil musicians played Elvis Presley songs including “Viva Las Vegas.” The last 10 impressed in their gowns while John Legend and the Roots played a soulful medley including “Save Room.”

Navarrete won a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion.

Campbell won the Miss Congeniality Universe award. Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul won Miss Photogenic Universe and a second award for having the best national costume.